Install Zabbix on Ubuntu

We will demonstrate how to install the zabbix server on a Linux machine with Ubuntu.

Downloading Zabbix

Initially, let’s access the zabbix page using the browser.

www.zabbix.com

Next let’s click on Downloads.

After that, let’s select installation by Zabbix Packages.

Now we will choose the version of Zabbix and the operating system we will install. In our case, we are using ubuntu 22.

So let’s choose the latest version of zabbix and select Ubuntu.

Next let’s select Ubuntu version = 22.

Note. If we were using another Linux distribution, we could choose the installation type at that time.

Also, let’s choose the zabbix componet = Server, Frontend, Agent. That way we can install the zabbix server and also a local zabbix agent.

After that, we will select the database that we will use. In this case, let’s use MySQL.

Now, let’s select the WEB server that will host the zabbix frontend. In this tutorial, we will choose Apache.

Installing Zabbix Server

Now, let’s scroll down the page and let’s start the zabbix installation part. For this, we will use the commands described on the website.

First we will choose the location where we will download the Zabbix repository on our computer.

In this case, we will choose the Downloads folder. However, the user can choose another folder.

cd Downloads

Next let’s download zabbix with the command below:

wget https://repo.zabbix.com/zabbix/6.4/ubuntu/pool/main/z/zabbix-release/zabbix-release_6.4-1+ubuntu22.04_all.deb

Note. Remember that when you are following this tutorial, the version of Zabbix may have changed; if that happens, you can replace the command above with the command described on the Zabbix website.

Now we are going to install the “.deb” file that we downloaded.

For this, we will use the command below:

sudo dpkg -i zabbix-release*

Next let’s do the update

sudo apt update

Now we will install zabbix and the necessary components for the Zabbix server to work.

For that, let’s use the command below.

sudo apt install zabbix-server-mysql zabbix-frontend-php zabbix-apache-conf zabbix-sql-scripts zabbix-agent

To confirm the installation, type “Y” and then press ENTER.

The figure below shows the completed installation.

Creating the database for zabbix

To create the database for zabbix we will use the command below.

sudo mysql -uroot -p

How to resolve Can’t connect to local MySQL server through socket error

If an error like the one in the figure below appears.

Can’t connect to local MySQL server through socket ‘/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock

This means you don’t have mysql-server installed yet.

So let’s install mysql-server using the command below.

sudo apt-get install mysql-server

Note. We assume the machine we are installing Zabbix on did not previously have a MySQL database.

Creating the database

Next, we need to enter a password for the database. In this example, let’s use password = 123456

Now let’s type the command below.

create database zabbix character set utf8mb4 collate utf8mb4_bin;

Next, let’s type the command below.

create user zabbix@localhost identified by ‘password‘;

Instead of ‘password’ let’s use our password which is 123456. So in our case the command will be :

create user zabbix@localhost identified by '123456';

Now, let’s grant privileges to the database with the command below.

grant all privileges on zabbix.* to zabbix@localhost;

Next let’s use the command below.

set global log_bin_trust_function_creators = 1;

Finally let’s finish with the command below.

quit;

Importing Zabbix server and initial schema

To import the initial schema and data, let’s use the command below.

Remember that after the command, we will be asked for the password we used. Therefore, we will use the same password that we used earlier. Therefore, our password is 123456.

sudo zcat /usr/share/zabbix-sql-scripts/mysql/server.sql.gz | mysql --default-character-set=utf8mb4 -uzabbix -p zabbix 

Note. After entering your password, it is common to take a long time to process. So take it easy.

Disabling the log_bin_trust_function_creators option

The zabbix website recommends that we disable the log_bin_trust_function_creators option. So let’s disable it using the commands below.

sudo mysql -uroot -p

Then we will use the same password that we created earlier, and ours is 123456.

Next, let’s use the command below.

set global log_bin_trust_function_creators = 0;

Now, let’s finish with the command below.

quit;

Configuring Zabbix server access

To do this, let’s enter the /etc/zabbix/zabbix_server.conf file.

Let’s use the command below.

sudo nano /etc/zabbix/zabbix_server.conf

Next let’s look for the DBPassword= line and let’s include our password 123456.

DBPassword=123456

After that, let’s save the changes and exit the nano editor.

Start Zabbix server and agent

To start the zabbix server, the zabbix agent and the apache server let’s use the command below.

sudo systemctl restart zabbix-server zabbix-agent apache2

Now, let’s configure so that the zabbix server, zabbix agent and apache server are started together with the operating system.

sudo systemctl enable zabbix-server zabbix-agent apache2

Starting zabbix in browser

Let’s open a browser and type the link below.

http://localhost/zabbix 

In this case we are accessing zabbix using the loopback address = localhost which can also be replaced by “127.0.0.1”.

To access the Zabbix server from another machine, you must enter the Zabbix server machine IP in the client machine’s browser, as in the example below.

http://zabbix_serverIP/zabbix

After choosing the language, click on “Next step”.

Next, we will check the prerequisites as shown in the figure below. Then let’s click on “Next step.

After checking the prerequisites, let’s now configure database access.

For this, we will include the password that we defined earlier.

In this case, our password was 123456. Then we will click on “Next step.

Now let’s define the Zabbix server name and the time zone.

In our example, we will use the name “my_zabbix” and the time zone of Sao Paulo. Then we will click on “Next step.

Next is a pre-installation summary. In this case, we will just confirm and click on “Next step.

In the figure below, we can see that we managed to install the zabbix server fronted.

So let’s click Finish.

Starting the frontend of the zabbix server

Now, let’s start typing the default user which in this case is “Admin” and the password which in this case is “zabbix”.

No quotes.

Finally we have zabbix installed and we will see a page like the one below.

See also:

How to install Zabbix on Raspberry Pi